Method of and apparatus for utilizing phase-changeable material



Dec. 15, 1 930,

H. B. RUDD METHOD OF ANDAPPAR ATUS FOR UTILIZING PHASE CHANGEABLE MATERIAL Filed June 24, 1929 INVENTORY Iarzyflfizzdd. Y

W, M M

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED. STATES I PATENT OFFICE may a mini), or nouemsron, NEW YORK METHOD 01 AND AIP PARA'IUS IQR UTILIZING PHASE-CHANGEABLE MATERIAL Application filed June 24,

5 position by pressure exerted thereon from the interior of said container.

In accordance with one prominent form of my invention, the aforesaid pressure is developed by a gaseous medium resulting from change in phase of one or more blocks or masses of solid or semi-solid ice-like material of carbon dioxide, for example, the latter being hereinafter generically termed solid materialor solid carbon dioxide, as the case may be. c

' My invention relates to a container arran' ed to be sealed in a novel, simple and hi ly practical manner.

teristics of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. 1

My invention resides'in the method, arrangement, apparatus and features of construction of, the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my method and for an illustration of one of the forms my novel sealing arrangement may take, reference is to be had to tlie accompanying drawin ,inwhich: t

e figure is a vertical sectional new, partly in elevation, illustrating a container and a sealing arrangement therefor together with a diagrammatic illustration of a conduit system traversed by material passing from said container.

As herein illustrated and described, my invention has general reference to a system for utilizing liquid and/or gaseous material resulting fromchange in phase of SOllCl material disposed in a casin or container. More particularly, my inventlon relates to an improved type of container. or casing receiving the aforesaid solid material and embodying a novel arrangement for sealing the same.

Still more particularly, my invention relates to a container or casing receiving solidmaurther advantages, objects, and charac terial and which is an improvement'over the 1929. Serial No. 378,134.

container utilizable for the same purpose and disclosedin my pending application Serial N 0. 341,712, filed February 21, 1929.

Referring to the drawing, C represents a casing or container of any suitable size, shape or configuration, the wallstructure thereof, ordinarily, being formed from iron or steel having suificient thickness to resist deformation such as may be occasioned by high pressure existing interiorly of said casing or container.

In the example illustrated, container C comprises a bottom wall from which rises circular wall structure having, at the to thereof, a cap member 1 threaded or ot erwise suitably secured thereto, said cap member 1 comprising an opening or aperture 1a through which material may be passed to the interior of said container C, as more particularlyhereinafter described. The cap member 1, in the example shown, has secured thereto by a chain 2, or the like, a member or plate 3 ordinarily formed from relatively thick metallic material and which should be of such configuration and have sucharea that, when placed in the proper position, it\closes the aforesaid opening 1a of cap member 1. To increase the efliciency of the sealing. action, member 3 may comprise a flange 3a.}fof such configuration, when in theposition illustrated, that it entirely encompasses the opening 1a of cap member 1. 'As hereinafter more fully described, flan e 3a, in response to manipulation of mem er 3 by a chain 4, or equivalent, is adapted to be received by a channel formed on the lower surface of cap member 1, said channel preferably containing a gasket 5 formed of rubber or the like.

referably but not necessarily the aforesaid opening 1a is circular, as is the channel on the inner surface of member 1. Under such circumstances, the flange 3a is circular and the same may be .true of the plate '3.

Accordingly,when the construction is of the character just described, itis impossible to pass the member 3 through the opening 1a- 9 each of which is controlled by a valve 10.

Opening into the container C, preferably immediately adjacent the top thereof, is a relief valve 11 of any suitable construction.

With the housing cover 7 removed and with the container C empty, the member 3 hangs downwardly therein under the influence of gravity and is supported solely by the chain 2. At this time, one or more blocks or masses I of the aforesaid solid or semi-solid carbon dioxide may be introduced into the container C through the opening 1a of cap member 1. Chain 4 may now be grasped manually and the member 3 moved into substantially the position illustrated, the flange 30. thereof entering the channel of cap member 1.

The solid or semi-solid carbon dioxide blocks or masses I are in unstable equilibrium and immediately after being placed in the container C, there is an evolution of carbon dioxide gas. Accordingly, the member 3 may be manually or otherwise suitably retained in the position illustrated for a brief period or until the gas pressure within the container C builds up or increases to an extent sufiicient to positively retain said member 3 in the position illustrated. 'As the gas pressure within the container C increases to greater and greater extent, the member 3 is more firmly held in such position and the flange 3a thereof in conjunction with the gasket 5 causes said container C to be posi ,tively sealed at the opening 1a.

After the sealing operation has been ef fected as described above, the blocks I continue to change to the gaseous phase and, with increasing pressure, the blocks change to the liquid phase to thereby produce in said container .0 a body of liquid carbon dioxide maintained under great pressure.

Principally the liquid medium thus ob; tained may be passed through the conduit 8 to a device D for returning the liquid carbon dioxide to thesolid or. semi-solid phase as described and claimed in my aforesaid pending application Serial No. 341,712, filed February 21, 1929. The device D may be of any character suitable for accomplishing this purpose and, in the example illustrated, corresponds generally with that disclosed in my pending application, Serial No. 320,060, filed November 17, 1928. When constructed as disclosed in said last named application,

the device D comprises a hinged cap 12, in part, defining a chamber 13 wherein the aforesaid liquid carbon dioxide is expanded to form a mass of solid or semi-solid carbon dioxide, passage of said liquid medium to said chamber 13 being controlled by a suit-' able valve actuated by a member 14. After the last named mass of material has been produced or formed, a member 15 may be actuated to release the cap 12 whereupon the latter may be swung on its pivot to open the chamber 13.

If desired and'also as described in my aforesaid pending application Serial No. 341,712, filed February 21, 1929, the conduit 9 may be traversed principally by carbon dioxide gas, the said conduit 9 leading to suitable carbonating apparatus, not shown, or, if desired, the gaseous material traversing the conduit 9 may be otherwise suitably utilized.

As illustrated, duplicate containers G are disposed in the housing H in side-by-side relation. the conduits 8 and 9 being connected to both of said containers. A duplicate con.- tainer arrangement per se is advantageous where the blocks or masses I are produced in a central plant, as they usually are. Accordingly, the container C may be'alternately utilized one of them receiving, for example, a supply of the blocks I on one da and-the other of them receiving a supply 0 blocks at a later date as claimed in my aforesaid pending application Serial No. 341,712 filed February 21, 1929. Obviously, after continued use of one of the containers 0, the gas pressure therewithin drops to such anextent that the member 3 may readily be removed from its sealing position after a suitable venting operation;

If desired, the containers C may be modified ordinary carbon dioxide drums disposed in inverted relation. The member 1 is substituted for the usual bottom drum wall and the usual upper conical section of the drum is cut away and replaced by a member such as herein shown as forming the container bottom wall.

Althou h my invention has been more or less speci cally described in connection with carbon dioxide, it shall be understood that ogher materials may be utilized in lieu there- 0 Q In the appended claims where it is specified that a closure plate is adapted. to contact with the lower surface of the container top wall, it shall be understood that this language isbroad enough to cover an arrangement wherein the closure plate contacts with' posed between said plate and said top wall.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it

v of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cov r all such changes and modifications.

W'hat is claimed as new and desired to be secured by LettersPatent is:

1. The method of sealing the filling opeilirig of a container, which comprises introducing phase-changeable solid material into said container through said opening, and thereafter retaining a closure plate in sealed relation with respect to said opening solely by the pressure exerted thereon by gas arising from change in phase of said solid material.

2. The method of sealing the filling opening of a container, which comprises introducing solid carbon dioxide into said container through said opening, and supporting a closure plate in sealed relation with respect to said opening until the evolution of carbon dioxide gas causes the pressure interiorly of said container to become slightly greater than that of the atmosphere, the gas pressure within said container serving solely thereafter to retain said closure plate in said sealed relation. I

3. The method of sealing the filling opening of a container, which comprises introducing solid carbon dioxide into said container through said opening, and by manual action supporting a closure plate in sealed relation with respect to said opening until the evolution of carbon dioxide gas causes the pressure interiorly of said container to become slightly greater than that of the atmosphere, said manual action being thereafter discontinued and the gas pressure Within said container serving solely to retain said closure plate in said sealed relation.

4. In combination, a container having a surface defining a filling opening, solid carbon dioxide being .disposed in said container by passage through said filling opening, a closure plate interiorly of said container and adapted to contact with said surface to seal said fill-ing opening, said closure plate being retained in sealin relation by pressure of the gas evolved rom said solid carbon dioxide. y

5. In combination, a container having side wall structure and a top wall, said top wall being apertured to define a filling opening, solid carbon dioxide being disposed in said container by passage through said filling opening, a closure plate interiorly of said container and adapted to contact with the lower surface ofsaid top wall to seal said filling opening, said closure plate being retained in sealing relation by pressure of the gas evolved from said solid carbon dioxide.

6; In combination, a container having a surface defining a filling opening, solid carbon dioxide being disposed in said container by passage through said filling opening, a closure plate interiorly of said container and adapted to contact with said surface to seal said filling opening, said closure plate being retained in sealing relation by pressure of the gas evolved from said solid carbon dioxid e. and valve means for releasing pressure within the container to allow free downward movement of said closure plate from said surfacewhereby access may be had to said container through said filling opening.

7. In combination, a container having side wall structure terminatingat its upper end in a flanged top wall, said flange top wall being apertured to define a filling opening, solid carbon dioxide being disposed in said' container by passage through said filling opening while said flanged top wall is in position on said side wall structure, a closure plate interiorly of said container and adapted to seal said filling opening when moved into engagement with the lower surface of said flanged top wall, said closure plate being retained in sealing relation by HARRY B. RUDD. 

